October 14, 2020

Luke 4:1-2
And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered.

As believers we know the role the Holy Spirit should play in our lives. I believe the only way to live the Christian life in a way that’s pleasing to God is under the influence of the Holy Spirit. This passage tells us where the Holy Spirit led Jesus. I would think that Jesus didn’t need the Holy Spirit because He was and is God. Yet Jesus showed His dependency on the Holy Spirit. If Jesus relied upon the Holy Spirit, how much more should we. The Holy Spirit lead Jesus to some unexpected places. I want to focus on one, the wilderness.
Jesus was full of the Holy Spirt, meaning the Holy Spirit had full control. At this moment Jesus is led to the wilderness into a place of testing. The bible tells us of the 3 ways Jesus was tempted, but we often overlook that the passage says, “being forty days tempted of the devil.” Every day he was in the wilderness Jesus was tempted. It’s interesting that Satan didn’t tempt Jesus until he began his ministry. The Bible does tell us Jesus was tempted in all points, but it doesn’t say Satan did this. I believe Satan is one individual and he is not omnipresent. He cannot attack all Christians at the same time. I would think those doing the greatest work for Christ would be receiving Satan’s attacks, not those who aren’t serving. Most of us will probably never experience a real attack from Satan.
This was not a peaceful relaxing time; it was a time of testing. Sometimes when we’re yielded to the Holy Spirit, He leads us to a place of testing. He doesn’t do this to see if we will fail. He does this to teach us that if He brings us to testing, we can rely on Him to get through testing. If we fail, He may have to keep bringing us back to the same place until we learn to rely on Him to get through the test. He takes us to these places of testing not to harm us, but to prepare us because he has a plan for us. We need to have the confidence that God can help us overcome anything if we rely on Him. If the Holy Spirit has led you to a place of testing, realize He didn’t leave you there alone, He walks with you and will help you overcome.
Jacob Jarriel